Horse-tail holder.



PATENTED OCT. l5', 1907.

0. B. READ. HORSETAIL HOLDER.

UNITED STATES ORRIN B. READ, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

HORSE-TAIL HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application tiled May 18,1907. Serial No. 374,478.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORRIN B. READ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Troy, county of Rensselaer, an d State ol New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Tail Holders, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements and consists ol' the novelconstruction and combination of parts hereinal'ter described andsubsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the referencecharacters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several ligurestherein.

Figure l of the drawings is a plan View of the outer side ol' myimproved holder, extended to occupy a horizontal plane. Fig. 2 ol' thesame. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same locked in circular formas inuse. Fig. 4 is a side view of the holder, showing the same appliedto a horses tail.

All-metal horse-tail holders are objectionable for the reason that theyrequire to have certain portions introverted to forni inward projectionsadapted to be embedded in the hair oi the horses tail, in order toprevent slipping or displacement of the holder, which projections havingcut-metal edges tend to tear or cut the hairs and distigure the tail. Aspring-metal holder, however, presents a more attractive appearance thanstrap holders, as the metal surface can be finished in an ornamentalmanner, and the holder remains circular in form when in use, whereaswith a strap holder, or a holder partly metal and partly strap, suchcircular l'orm cannot be preserved, nor can so. attractive surfaceornamentation be secured.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a holder having theadvantages of the all-metal holder, but relieved ot' its tendency to cutor break the hairs of the tail.

Referring to the drawings wherein the invention is shown in preferredform, l, denotes a spring-metal band, which may be of any desired width,and which, adjacent to one of its ends, is provided with twolongitudinally disposed slots 2. At its opposite end, the band isprovided on its outer side with a series of lips or tongues, 3, eachpreferably separated from the body of the band on three sides, andhaving the tree end ofthe tongue bent outwardly suflciently to permitthe lip to pass through one of the slots, 2, in the other end of theband, and to interlock with the outer end wall of said r l l l is asimilar view of the inner side slot, when the band is bent to circularform, as shown in Fig. 3, the slotted end lying outside of the endhaving the tongues 3. Two series of these tongues are arranged in linewith the respective slots 2. By having a nurnber of these tongues inseries, the band can be bent to a more or less contracted circular form,and locked in such form, thereby adapting the holder for different sizesof tail.

The displacement of the lips or tongues, 3, causes the formation ofnumerous apertures in the band, said tongues forming, with the body ofthe band on opposite sides of the openings formed by their displacement,V- shaped recesses or notches, in which the hairs of the tail are likelyto become wedged and torn by movements of the holder, or by its removalfrom the tail. The hairs are also likely to be broken or sheared off ifpermitted to come between the interengagng tongues, 3, and walls of theslots 2.

In carrying out my invention, I apply and secure upon the inner side ofthe metal band, in position to cover the openings formed by displacementof said tongues or lips, a strip, 5, of flexible material, such as softrubber, which may be secured to the metal band by rivets, 6, or in anyknown manner. The strip, 5, is corrugated on its inner side so that itis adapted to be embedded in the hair of the tail and preventdisplacement of the holder When locked upon the tail.

The yielding nature of the strip, 5, makes it impossible for itscorrugated surface to injure the tail, and the strip is of such a widthand length, and is so placed that it covers the openings formed by thedisplacement of the tongues, 3, making it impossible for the hairs ofthehorses tail to pass out through such openings, or to engage thecut-metal edges surrounding such openings.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Ahorse-tail holder comprising, in combination a metallic spring-bandhaving' near one end tongues formed by outward displacement of integralportions of the band, leaving openings therein, and having near itsother end means for interengaging with said tongues; and a strip ofyielding flexible material secured to the inner side of said band andcovering the apertures formed by displacement of said tongues.

In testimony whereof, 16th day of May, 1907.

I have hereunto set my hand this ORRIN B. READ.

